Government gives nod for installing solar plants in defence sector.

To promote energy security and ecologically sustainable growth, the government today gave the green signal for installation of solar power plants in defence and paramilitary establishments by utilising available area.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval for setting up over 300 MW of grid-connected solar PV power projects by defence establishments and paramilitary forces in the country under an ambitious solar mission of the government.

The Cabinet gave its approval for 'setting up over 300 MW of grid-connected and off-grid Solar PV Power Projects by defence establishments under Defence Ministry and paramilitary forces under Home Ministry with viability gap fund (VGF) under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in five years--that is from 2014 to 2019,' an official release said.

According to it, stipulation of mandatory condition that all PV cells and modules used in the solar plants set up under this scheme will be made in India.

The Cabinet approved provision of an amount of Rs. 750 crore for Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) from the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) for the purpose.

ET